SC Gives Beaufort Chamber $50,000 To Promote Military Bases - WSAV: News, Weather, and Sports for Savannah, GA

Preserving Beaufort's bases is the top priority of the city's Military Enhancement Committee and now they have more money to execute their mission. 

It's a fight to keep the sound of freedom ringing in Beaufort, and Monday the state of South Carolina gave their support.  Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom says cutbacks are inevitable in the Department of Defense, but South Carolina is pitching in $50,000 toward the local effort of convincing decision makers not to trim too much here.

"We're not trying to stand in the way of needed base eliminations," Eckstrom said.  "If there's a base not doing its job, if there's a base that costs more to operate than another that does the same, we say ‘go for it.' But we're making the case to the federal government that we've got major efficiency advantages here in South Carolina."

John Payne leads the Military Enhancement Committee, which will use the money to make their case in Washington.  He says sequestration is only the start of the battle that is going to be big for them, as another round of base realignment and closures will follow the coming cuts.

"Since Congress hasn't really decided what they're going to cut and when, it's making our job more confusing," Payne said.  "It's like the game Whack-a-mole. You hit it and it bounces up somewhere else  That's a little like the game we're playing."

There is one condition on the money-- it is not to be used for consultants.  A total of $200,000 is being distributed across the state for this same purpose in areas with military presence.